The program has a great feature that collects your document, all needed fonts and linked graphics for print. Using it saves time, and gives you the best results when handing off the files to our graphics department. Here’s the rundown:

In PageMaker, there is a plug-in under Utilities named Save for Service Provider. Using the Save for Service Provider plug-in, the user can copy the publication, all linked image files, fonts, and other files required to print the document. Save for Service Provider also helps resolve broken links by prompting the user to locate the folders containing linked files. Similarly, this plug-in can also check the status of links and fonts in a PostScript file generated by PageMaker 6.5.

Optionally, a concise report of the information we need to print from a PageMaker or PostScript file can also be created. The report includes details about fonts, linked graphics, a summary of the print settings, as well as information about who to contact regarding the publication.

To save files and generate a report using Save for Service Provider:

Choose Utilities > Plug-ins > Save for Service Provider. The Summary dialog box opens. The plug-in works on the active publication if the Check Pub is clicked.

Click Fonts, Links, Printing, or Colors to see a detailed report on that aspect of the publication or PostScript file. Print the status information by clicking Print at any time.

If the Links dialog box shows one or more linked files needing attention, click Relink or
Relink All, and navigate to the correct image files.
To save the publication, click Package, and set options as follows:

From the Report Type pop-up menu, choose Formatted (for a PageMaker publication) or Text only (for an ASCII text-only file).

Select Auto Open Package Report if, after saving the publication and associated files, the user wants to display the summary report in a new window on your desktop.

Select Update Links to bring out-of-date links up-to-date in the original publication before making a package.

For Include, select Copy Fonts to avoid missing fonts at print time, and then select the kind of fonts—All, Type 1 (PostScript), or TrueType.

Click Notes to enter contact information, such as the user’s name and phone number, any comments on printing the publication, and then click OK.

Before you finish, use your normal process to create a PDF version of your Pagemaker document, and include that with the files your send.

Specify a location in which to save all necessary files. Put all of the files in a single folder. Then compress that folder, into a single archive file. In Windows, you can do that by right clicking the folder and selecting “send to..compressed folder.” There’s a similar function on the Macintosh by usiing the control key, while you click on the folder. This will bring up a menu from which you can select compress.

Send your compressed folder as a file attachment, or preferably use the send files feature on our website. That’s it!

NEWSFLASH:
We’re officially in recession. Isn’t that a shocking revelation? Unless a bailout is coming your way, maybe now’s a good time to save some green on your company’s publishing software needs. People often ask me “what’s the best software choice for my newsletter?” (or brochure, business card, mailer, etc.) Of course, no single software package fits everyone’s needs. This is my list of top picks for professional grade tools, available on the cheap.

Word Processor

Go-Go Clinton/Bush years: Microsoft Office: $420

Obama’s change: Open Office: FREE at http://openoffice.org.

It’s hard to believe that more people aren’t using this amazing, fully functional office suite, which is available for a free download. Once a bit rough around the edges, the last few years of open source development have added a lot of polish to the program. It includes a word processor, spreadsheet, database, powerpoint alternative, and even a draw program.

Page Layout

Real Estate Boom: Adobe InDesign CS4: $694

The Bubble Bursts: Scribus: FREE at http://www.scribus.net

Sure, I’d love all your projects to come in from clients using QuarkXpress, or Adobe’s flagship Creative Suite. Then again, Scribus represents a rock solid contender in the page layout category, once you get used to the quirky looking user interface.

Photo Editor

Dow at 11,000: Adobe Photoshop $630

Retire on tomato soup for dinner: GIMP : FREE at http://www.gimp.org

Let’s face it; you probably don’t need more than a few of Photoshop’s tools, commands and functions. All of its most important functions can be found in yet another open source project: GIMP. It’s nothing like the program you may have seen a few years back, while poking around in Linux. There’s even a hack to give it the look and feel you’ve grown to love (or hate) in Photoshop.

Open source software has come a long way in recent years, thanks to the generosity of the programming community. All of these programs are available in Windows and Mac versions, and the resulting output files are fully supported at Copies&Ink.

In upcoming posts: We’ll talk about some of the key features in these programs, and how they might apply to your work. Keep posted!

Where cost is an issue, Baronial style envelopes have a great price point, but they’re usually only available in white or ivory.

Baronial (i.e. pointy-flap) Style Envelopes

4 Bar
5.125 x 3.625

5 Bar
5.625 x 4.125

5 ½ Bar
5.625 x 4.375

6 Bar
6.5 x 4.75

Lee
7.25 x 5.25

A lot of folks prefer the the more up to date square flap style Announcement envelope. Indeed, they’re available in a wider range of colors and finishes:

Announcement Envelope: square flap style

A-2

4.375″ x 5.75″

A-6
4.75″ x 6.5″

A-7
5.25″ x 7.25″

A-8
5.5″ x 8.125

A-9
5.75″ x 8.75″

A-10
6″ x 9.5″

Just two more things to remember:
1. Not every size/color/finish combo is available, so check before you start your design
2. These are the envelope sizes, the enclosures should be designed about 1/4″ smaller in each dimension.

Questions: just give us a call or visit our contact page.

In the market for some custom printed folders or announcements? Check out our current specials!

Kelly’s Extra Handouts

http://idisk.mac.com/kmccathran-Public

Adobe Design Center

Step-by-Step Lessons, Guides and Tutorials for CS2 & CS3 also access to User Forums & Feature Requests
http://adobe.com/designcenter/

Adobe Design Center Video Workshop

Flash Movies on all Creative Suite 3 Products and many new features
http://adobe.com/designcenter/video_workshop

Adobe Print Resource Center

Transparency guides and PDF Print Production Information and a wealth of print related resources
http://adobe.com/go/print

Adobe Events

Find Adobe Certified Trainers and Training Centers in your area, on-demand and live eClasses as well as road show events
http://www.adobe.com/events

Adobe Education

Educational resources for K-12 and higher education, free curriculum and more
http://www.adobe.com/education

I have no clue as to all the things you can do with FinderPop for the Macintosh. But if you just use it to sort your way through a messy desktop or to switch between applications, you should get it. Best of all, it’s free. Donations will be accepted by the publisher.

The King James Bible for Kindle

What’s new in the 2008 King James edition? Maybe not much in terms of real content change, but the delivery system has sure changed. You can now get it over the cell phone network! Or how about the current issue of The Wall Street Journal for 75 cents… delivered wirelessly! Gutenberg would indeed be proud. So how has this come about?

Enter the Kindle: Amazon’s New Wireless Reading Device

There have been many e-book solutions proposed over the years, but IMO this is the first one with merit. In addition to a crystal clear reader that wirelessly downloads books for a fraction of their printed cost, you also get lifetime free internet access using the Sprint network. OK, it’s not a killer app web browser, but it’s FREE!

I may not be able to give up “real” books quite yet, but this sure beats toting War and Peace in my carry-on for that that 13 hour airplane flight!

OK, it’s not QuarkXPress or InDesign, but if you need a good basic layout program, I give Apple’s Pages a thumbs up. If it was only the MS Word import capability and the seamless export to PDF, it would be worth the $89 cost. But, there’s a lot more under the hood in this slick word processor/page layout hybrid.

Add in Keynote (a presentation program that imo is better than PowerPoint) and Numbers, a slick looking spreadsheet program and you’re good to go. It’s about 1/4th the cost of Microsoft’s Entourage Suite. BTW, the word is that the new 2008 version of Entourage is a dud. In any event, even if you can’t image life without Word on your PC, I’d encourage you to download the free 30 day trial.

For a pro environment, I’d never give up a “real” layout program, but if you are an occasional publisher, and you prefer a more visual approach to layout, (Pages includes some pretty nice templates) I think you’ll be happy with Apple’s latest version of Pages.

Pages

My son’s computer held no mission critical or sensitive information. For that we are thankful. But still, it was a fairly new MacBook. His roomate’s was only a few weeks old. Arrgh! Here’s the advice I should have given them, though whether they would have followed it is another issue:

1. When you’re gone, lock your laptops to a solid object using a cable.

2. Prep your machine to increase the chance of recovery. You can set up your machine to require a login password. You may even be able to set a password at the firmware level, which would help preventing someone from booting your machine from an external disk, or from a newly intalled hard drive. See this Apple article about setting it up on a Macintosh computer. Make a careful note of your new firmware password; your machine will need major surgery if you forget it.

And here’s a clever idea from Macworld magazine: change the login window wallpaper to have your name & zip code on it. If the machine is taken to a repair center, sold or recovered, the user will be able to see who it belongs to when the login screen come up. Here’s how:
1. Goto Library>Desktop Pictures & make a duplicate of Aqua Blue.jpg
2. Now open the original in Photoshop or an equivalent and insert some text at the top and/or bottom that will say who owns the computer E.G. “This computer belong to Joe Bloggs. 91730″
3. Save it and change the wallpaper in Preferences to Aqua Blue copy.jpg or some other if you don’t want the message displayed once you have logged in.

I just learned that there are several “Lo Jack” style products available for computers. On machines that have built in cameras, the software can actually snap photos of the thief and send them to the authorities once he/she logs into the internet! In addition the software will send ip address information to help track down the physical location of your machine. This software might be a good investment on certain high risk desktop machines too!

Here is one such program for Macs and another for both Windows and Mac.

Finally a wikipedia article that outlines the enormity of computer theft. We should all take it seriously.

Online Postage Calculator from the US Postal Service

LATE UPDATE: Click here for information on the new NCOA regulations and special offers from Copies&Ink

A question heard frequently at Copies&Ink is: What’s the postage tab for my upcoming mailing? Here’s the easiest way we’ve found to calculate postage for your business mailing, and also compare the costs for various types of mailing services offered by the USPS.

To be completely accurate, you’ll need to know how many of the destinations in your mailing list will be sorted into 3 digit, 5 digit, carrier route, etc. Of course, this is nearly impossible without software to analyze your list directly. (That’s a service we offer at Copies&Ink.) But for a rough estimate, it’s usually safe enough to guess that your mailing will mostly fall into the “3 digit” category unless it’s going to just a few cities in a focussed area. If you mailing for a certified non profit, you can apply for a special permit to mail at greatly reduced rates. Check out the latest rates at the official USPS online calculator site.

Postage is often one of the largest costs in your direct mail campaign, so it pays to understand the “rules of the road.” When in doubt you can contact your regional USPS business center. We find that for the most part, you’ll find helpful and knowledgeable assistance just for the asking. In our Santa Ana, CA region their phone number is 714-662-6483.

Finally, don’t forget that a well designed mail piece will keep postage at a minimum, while at the same time optimizing response. So the sage advice is: don’t cut corners in the planning stages. Wanna’ know more? Sign up for our InkBlot newsletter. We’ll keep you up to date on all matters print and direct mail.

speedtest.net,

OK, I admit this is a bit on the geeky side, but haven’t you often wondered if you’re actually getting the upload and download speed your internet service provider is advertising?

We recently updated our phones to a VOIP system; it routes outgoing calls over the internet. Part of the process involved getting a better feeling how quickly our bits and bytes reach their destination. Speedtest.net is not a technical test of bandwidth, but rather a very simple way to see how your connection is performing at any given time.

One reason I wanted to share this site is its slick interface. Notice how the design clearly communicates, informs and motivates the reader. Whether online, or in print, good design is difference that turns a lackluster campaign to a winner.